Maundy Thursday Service

Our communion table tonight is Jesus’ Table of Welcome, an inspiring art installation by liturgical artist Kris Garratt.  It consists of a table and 13 chairs seated at the table, 12 of which represent segments of society that have been considered outcast or excluded.  Members and friends of Seattle’s University Congregational Church were asked to offer suggestions as to who should be represented at this table, a table of inclusion, and what items should be present on the table itself.  Those suggestions were used to create the table and each chair.  Congregational input was also requested for the representation of Jesus.  Jesus was described visually as “partying, laughing, Middle Eastern, welcoming, and edgy (Black, female, ethnic).  His face is a composite image including many of these elements.  Most people giving their suggestions felt Jesus should be portrayed as a prophet among leaders of other faiths.  That suggestion was incorporated by displaying the Golden Rule from different faith traditions on the back side of his chair.  We are very grateful to Kris Garrett for providing the table for our use during Holy Week. 

Maundy Thursday

Incapacitating Fear

Imagine yourself on a mountain top and seeing Jesus, in dazzling white, accompanied by Moses and Elijah. What is your reaction – elation? Fear? Puzzlement? The disciples were afraid, according to the passage in Mark and at the same time probably elated and puzzled. What was going on here? Peter wanted to stay in this place – after all, here were two very important prophets of his Judaic faith as well as the teacher whom he followed. Why not stay at the feet of these men?

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Great Expectations

In recent weeks, we’ve been having some fun with the gospel of Mark and his special penchant for hyperbole. And this week, we’ve got a leprosy story to boot. I tell ya … There ain’t nothing’ like a good leprosy healing to make us believe. Leprosy? Gone? I’m a believer! You got my vote, God! I BELIEVE! Now about this little ache I got in my knee ….

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World Communion Sunday

Today is World Communion Sunday -- a celebration begun by the Presbyterian Church in 1937, now celebrated by Christians, Protestant and Catholic, around the world. Today Christians from every culture break bread and pour wine or juice together. We may have different practices, different theological understandings for sharing this meal; but on this day, men, women, and children of every language, color, and nationality gather in fields, straw huts, brick schools, wooden shacks, stone cathedrals, this sanctuary to praise God and entering into physical and spiritual communion with one another.

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Tis A Gift To Be Humble – Servant Power

Servant Power, the title of this sermon -- I looked up those words in Merriam Webster. The first definition of servant -- one that serves others, especially one that performs duties about the person or home of a master. Definition of power, same source -- possession of control, authority, or influence over others. Using those definitions, the phrase Servant Power seems an oxymoron, at the very least a paradox, something contradictory or opposed to common sense, yet perhaps true

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